pressure drop with engine oil cooler

[flexyfool]

Has anyone seen a big pressure drop with an engine oil cooler? I just plumbed in a cooler on my early Bronco with a 351w. Pressure at idle went from 40 PSI to 20 PSI. There are no obvious kinks or obstructions or plugs. The adapter puck between the block and filter lines up properly. It's all a 1/2" diameter system so bigger than the 5/16" or 3/8" one would use for a tranny cooler. I'm not sure what is going on. My buggy uses a very similar system with a 302 and has no pressure drop. The 302 is a new engine with a high flow pump. The 351w is old with a stock pump.

 

[flexyfool]

Well, the oil cooler isn't going to work. The pump on the high mileage engine simply can't adequately push the volume of oil through the lines and cooler. The more line that is plumbed into the system, the lower the oil pressure.

 

[UNSTUCK]

How about running smaller line?

 

[MikeGyver]

Why do you need an oil cooler?

 

[rollover]

I have seen the hoses fail where they swell inside and restrict flow. Replaced the hoses and all was well.

 

[flexyfool]

How about running smaller line?

Good idea. I probably should have gone with 3/8" line and cooler tubes.

 

[flexyfool]

Why do you need an oil cooler?

An attempt to easily add more cooling capacity.

 

[MikeGyver]

What i mean is why do you need to cool your oil? do you redline it a lot when crawling? cooler is not automatically better. If you need cooling, tweak the cooling system...

 

[flexyfool]

It is heck of a lot easier and somewhat cheaper than stuffing a bigger radiator into the engine compartment and the new hoses, fan, shroud, etc.

 

[UNSTUCK]

I would have assumed you started out with 3/8 line. What size did you use?

 

[MikeGyver]

It is heck of a lot easier and somewhat cheaper than stuffing a bigger radiator into the engine compartment and the new hoses, fan, shroud, etc.

Yes, but don't expect anywhere near the same results as doing that. The worst part is, it's trading vital engine lubrication for unnecessary oil cooling.

 

[flexyfool]

I agree on the cooling improvement. Not expecting anything huge, but I do have one on another vehicle, and the 185 degree activated fan does turn on, run a while, then turn off so it is soaking heat out of the engine above what the coolant system is doing. As far as lubrication, that's why I stated the cooler was not going to work with the engine. I'll try some things like a 3/8" system and high flow oil pump.